First rabies shots-UPDATE!!

[jesuschick]

The girls will each get their first rabies shot tomorrow. Just wanted to know what to watch for, ask, do.
It seems odd that I ask this. We took Mick every year for his (for years and years) and I thought nothing of it.
Now that I know more about vaccines (and because they are my tiny baby girls!!), I am worried.
I appreciate any advice. Thank you!!

UPDATE!!
Girls did great! He grabbed their necks like he was their mama and quickly gave the injection and they did not even flinch. I cannot feel any lump (yet, I suppose). Still dosing the Benadryl. Is it wrong that I like that they are sweet, sleepy and calmer on the Benadryl? haha!

I told him to expect that we would not be doing this every year and he said, "okay". I told him that I'd be going to every 3 years after next year and he said that we could discuss between now and then whether we'd do titers or a 3 year injection (??). I need to learn more about that. If it is "3 year's worth" of medicine crammed into one injection, no thanks.

Anyway, so far so good. Thank you VERY, VERY much for the tips and advice. I think the proactive Benadryl may have been the best thing I could have done and I would not have known to do it without you taking time to share.

[Lucy]

Sorry, I'm no help here, we don't do rabies shots. However, I'm assuming its the same sort of thing you watch for with regular vaccs?

Hope someone else can come along and give more info

[Lucy]

Just did a quick google search and found this. These are possible side effects.

Immediately or up to 3 days after the shot:

Vomiting
Facial swelling
Fever or lethargy
Circulatory shock
Loss of consciousness

[Kristi]

I always pre-treat w/ benedryl, 1-2 mg per pound, prob. 5 mg for each of your girls, the kids liquid suspension stuff from walgreens I believe is 12.5 mg per 5 ml, so about 2 ml/cc's 2x a day, tonight, tomorrow morning, tomorrow night, and the next 2 days...can prevent the swelling and life threatening part of a reaction that can block airways etc. So I do it just to be safe

Make sure to massage the area the shot was given vigorously 2-3 times a day as well, lumps can easily develop that cause permanent tissue damage that later on can turn cancerous...so, the sooner the cells return to normal the better If a bump/lump develops, I have my vet document it so I can use it to help get an exemption in the future.

[rachel]

My nans pup that I have here had his rabies vac 2 weeks ago and he screamed the whole place down, omg I felt so bad. He has to have it as he's going to France in a few weeks. It's not compulsory in the uk unless you are bringing them back from another country.

[mchis]

I'd give a dose of benedryl tonight & tomorrow before you take them in. Signs to watch for are puffy eyes/muzzle. Rubbing their face on blankets/beds or wiping their faces with their paws. Scratching, fever, lethargy you can watch for as well.

This reaction was to a parvo vac but Boo's muzzle is typically really tiny. Three hours after his vac & up from a nap & this is what I found....poor fella. Facial swelling is the first thing I noticed in his reactions... And his brother had mild swelling to a vac as well. Boo only got really itchy, leghargic, hot & rubbed his face all over when the reaction was a bit more severe. So the first reaction he had was the facial swelling. So yeah...definitely premedicate!!

[Kristi]

FWIW I find the wal-green's bubblegum dye free children's stuff is best I mix it with a tiny bit of baby food and they eat it right up. You can give it w/ a syringe but LOL, I always end up sticky.

[jesuschick]

Well, we were at Target so I got their dye-free version of benadryl. Now I am confused on dosing. One syringe dispenser that I have is tiny. It is 0.1-1.0 ml. I have another that is larger and is 1ml-5ml and also has 1/4 -1 tsp. measurement. How much should I give them-0.5 each time-surely not a whole teaspoon, 5ml?

My stupid state has NO medical exemptions, so no titers and no 3 years. Uggh.